2021 | January 8 GMP E Newsletter
Georgia Milk Producers Weekly Enews
2021 GA Dairy Conference Update

The Georgia Dairy Conference is still an in-person event. Please do your part and help us meet smart! Registered guests, farmers, and exhibitors will receive an update email soon - so be on the lookout!! Please #letsmeetsmart:
  1. Stay home if you are not feeling well
  2. Wear a mask (Savannah has a mask mandate)
  3. Use hand sanitizer or wash hands frequently
  4. Wear your social distancing preference bracelet
  5. Bring a smile and willingness to learn


Covid-19 Measures at GA Dairy Conference:


For additional information on safety precaution please click here for our 
FROM THE SAVANNAH RIVERFRONT MARRIOTT: The health and
safety of our guests is our top priority: Click here for COVID-19 updates and what to expect at our hotel.
Biden Administration to Oversee New Coronavirus Payments to Farmers
By Chuck Abbott, Successful Farming

Considering the time needed to convert legislation into action, the Biden administration will oversee the payment of most or all of the $13 billion in agricultural aid that was included in the latest coronavirus package, said Agriculture Undersecretary Bill Northey on Tuesday. Still, there was a chance that some funds could flow before the end of January, or even before the change in the administration on Jan. 20, Northey said during a news conference.

“We certainly have some things we would like to be able to get out very quickly,” said Northey, who oversees farm subsidies. He did not offer details. Some proposals are awaiting approval from the White House budget office so “we don’t have anything we’re announcing now.” Read more here>>>
Milk Prices Surge After USDA Food-Box Aid Program Extended
By Michael Hirtzer, Bloomberg

Though the new Animal Care Version 4.0 standards for the latest extension of a U.S. food aid program is lifting dairy prices and raising prospects of a boost in milk production in the coming months.

Benchmark Class III futures for milk used to make cheese jumped 4.9% on Tuesday in Chicago in their biggest gain since April after the U.S. Department of Agriculture expanded its Farmers to Families Food Box Program. The USDA will buy $1.5 billion worth of food including produce, beef, pork, seafood, milk and cheese to distribute across the country, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue said Monday in a statement.

The funding for the fifth round of purchases was included in the Covid-19 aid package passed in December and comes after USDA distributed more than 132 million boxes of food. Read more here>>>
January Dixie Dairy Report
Calvin Covington
In this issue:
-Dairy product and Class milk prices
-Robust milk production
-Supply and demand in 2021
-Blend prices and Milk prices in 2021

By Flora Southey, Food Navigator

Recommendations to cut out or reduce meat from diets is not a universal solution, according to researchers, who stress livestock is critical to incomes and diets in low- and middle-income countries. Read more here>>>
Dairy farmers, like I said last summer: It’s the ‘pricing formula’
From  Arden Tewksbury, Pro Ag

Dairy farmers are continually complaining about the negative p.p.d. (producer price differential), and rightfully so. However, the evil spirit looms behind the negative p.p.d.s.
It’s the erratic pricing formula that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) uses to price milk to dairy farmers. I’ve had dairy farmers actually scream to me that their buying handler is deducting a tremendous amount from their dairy farmer’s milk check through the provision called the p.p.d.

No, the handlers are not deducting the p.p.d. money from their milk checks. Actually, the pricing formula used to price dairy farmers’ milk checks does not allow the amount of money to be made available to all dairy farmers. (That’s the problem.)

Look at it this way. In the Federal Order in California last month, the p.p.d. was over $9 per cwt. (100 pounds of milk). The pay price in California was around $13.49 per cwt. Now if you take $9 p.p.d. and add it to the $13.49 price, you will come up with nearly $22 per cwt. This $22 per cwt. is not in the formula, but it is approximately the national average cost of production (as we have in bill S-1640). Read more here>>>
GEORGIA FARM BUREAU HONORS SEN. ISAKSON WITH COMMODITY AWARD
From GA Farm Bureau

On Dec. 17, former U.S. Senator Johnny Isakson received the 2020 Georgia Farm Bureau (GFB) Commodity Award in a private presentation at his Atlanta office. The GFB Commodity Award, one of the organization’s highest honors, is given to individuals who have supported and promoted Georgia agriculture.

“Georgia’s farmers received strong support from Senator Johnny Isakson throughout his time in public service,” said Georgia Farm Bureau President Tom McCall. “No person is more deserving of this award. It’s truly our pleasure to honor Senator Isakson with the Georgia Farm Bureau Commodity Award.”

Isakson served in the Georgia House, Georgia Senate, U.S. House and U.S. Senate during a political career that dated from 1976 to December 2019, when he retired from the U.S. Senate due to his health. Isakson was elected to three consecutive terms in the U.S. Senate. During his time in the Senate, due to the importance of poultry to Georgia’s economy, Isakson co-chaired the Senate Chicken Caucus with Sen. Chris Coons. Isakson also served on the Subcommittee on International Trade, Customs and Global Competitiveness. His work in the caucus and on the trade subcommittee opened up exports for Georgia poultry products around the world, particularly China and Africa. Isakson chaired both the Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs and the Select Committee on Ethics.

On April 1, 2019, Sen. Isakson stood at the front table on the Senate floor for almost the entire roll call vote – more than two hours – asking his fellow senators to support taking action on House Resolution 268, a resolution to provide disaster assistance for farmers affected by Hurricane Michael. Isakson’s act, despite health issues, showed his commitment to Georgia farmers. Although the motion failed to pass that day 44-49, because opponents felt the legislation did not contain enough funding for food nutrition programs for Puerto Rico, Congress did eventually pass legislation later in 2019 to fund disaster assistance for Georgia farmers which was distributed earlier this year.

Isakson learned about farming and gained an appreciation for agriculture as a youth when he worked summers on his grandparents’ farm in Ben Hill County. He is a nine-time recipient of the Friend of Farm Bureau Award, given to members of Congress whose voting records align with American Farm Bureau Federation policy. Isakson graduated from the University of Georgia in 1966 and served in the Georgia Air National Guard from 1966-1972. He opened the first Cobb County office of Northside Realty and later
worked as company president. Isakson and his wife, Dianne, live in Marietta and attend Mount Zion United Methodist Church. They have three children and nine grandchildren.
Georgia AG Forecast Set for Jan. 29
The Georgia Ag Forecast, which ordinarily makes stops at multiple locations around the state, will instead be held virtually on Jan. 29. Georgia Farm Bureau is a sponsor for this annual seminar, which is free to attend for 2021. Ag Forecast shares the latest research and information from UGA faculty to help farmers and agribusinesses in Georgia's No. 1 industry. Keynote topics are agritourism and the impact of COVID-19 on Georgia farmers. Breakout sessions will cover livestock and poultry, cotton, peanuts grains and oilseeds, green industry and vegetables; fruits and tree nuts; and forestry and land taxation. To register, visit https://agforecast.caes.uga.edu/.
Dairy is in a good place in 2021. Let’s keep it there!
From Donna Berry, Berry on Dairy

The newly released Dietary Guidelines for Americans (2020-2025 edition) reaffirmed dairy’s central role in the diet, as dairy foods provide essential nutrients that are often under-consumed. It is paramount that processors continue to offer the highest-quality, best-tasting dairy foods in order to keep consumers as customers.

Highlights from the Dietary Guidelines:

  • A recommendation of three servings of dairy in the Healthy U.S. Eating pattern and Healthy Vegetarian Eating patterns, in keeping with past guidelines;
  • Dairy’s continued recognition as a distinct food group;
  • A recognition that Americans aren’t consuming enough dairy to meet their nutritional needs;

(#1 approach to keep dairy attractive to the 2021 shopper: Invest in the marketing of dairy’s nutrient density. This includes social media and packaging claims.) 

  • Dairy’s reaffirmation as a source of four nutrients of public health concern, including potassium, calcium, and vitamin D, as well as iodine for pregnant women; and, the most noteworthy,
  • A recommendation of milk, yogurt and cheese in the first-ever healthy eating patterns geared toward infants and toddlers ages birth to 24 months.

(#2 approach to keep dairy attractive to the 2021 shopper: Invest in the development of nutrient-dense, delicious and even fun dairy foods for infants and toddlers.) 

“The panel’s recognition that dairy is a key source of ‘nutrients of concern’ in U.S. diets is especially important,” says Jim Mulhern, president and CEO, National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF). “During a time of food insecurity and concerns about proper nutrition among Americans, dairy is a readily accessible solution to clearly identified public-health challenges. Dairy farmers work hard to be part of that solution, and the panel’s recognition of the nutritional importance of dairy is greatly appreciated.” Read more here>>>
Other Stories to Check Out This Week >>>
Upcoming Events >>>
GA Dairy Classifieds
TO ADVERTISE: EMAIL AD AND CONTACT INFORMATION TO FARRAH NEWBERRY at gamilkproducers@gmail.com

UPDATED 12/10/2020

Will Raise Heifers for GA Dairy Farms: Hello we are located in Southern Illinois and have an abundance of pasture and cheap feed available looking to contract with a dairy to grow heifers for them, out location offers mild climate and we are just 558 miles from Montezuma Ga. Please contact 817-528-6645 very reasonable daily rates.

For Sale - Productive 360 Cow Holstein Herd For Sale, Parlor/Freestall/AI Sired/Lots of Young Cows/2X 70# 4%F SCC-160K More information at www.kreegerdairy.com or call Chad at 517-294-3484

For Sale- DeLaval 84 Vacuum Pump on Stand, Oil Reclaimer, 10 HP- 3 Phase Electric Motor. New Bearings, New Oil Seal, New Belts. $2000
For more Information Call Tony Strickland , 229-254-6871; deepsouthai@gmail.com

For sale - Please contact John Felder for more information at 803-682-3425:
  • Dairy Tech Bay Pasturizer - $4,000
  • Tidenberg Hydraulic Hoof Table (like new) - $5,000
  • Mench Sand Trailor - $14,000
  • Hall Stall Sand Leveler (new) - $1,000
  • Claas Silage Choppers - 960 1875 cutterhead hours, 4WD, 600 orbis, HD300 PU - $190,000
  • Fans Cool Aire
  • 18 54" $225.00
  • 20 48" $125.00
  • 20 35" 100.00
WANTED: Peter's Cattle Co. will buy any dairy, beef, and cross, bottle or weaned, bulls, heifers or free martins. Pick up weekly 7 days a week. Chris- 470-255-8515
 
Bull Calves WANTED:  Competitive pricing with 6 day a week pickup. Brandon Mason Cattle Company 912-632-4490

FOR SALE :  We have a continuous selection of fresh and springing heifers.   Call William at   (706) 768-2857  or visit our website at   crumpdairyreplacements.org  
Farmer to Farmer Support Program Available for SE dairy farmers
Farmers across the Southeast are experiencing uncertain times like never before. All aspects of agriculture have been hit by market losses due to COVID-19, but dairy has reached a level of uncertainty that many have never experienced.

As we navigate through these next few months, dairy producers across the Southeast have come together to introduce the "Farmer to Farmer Support Program." If you find that you need support or would like to talk to a fellow farmer or industry friend, they have several volunteers that are willing and able to help. Georgia Milk Producers has also put together a packet on the program that you can access by clicking here. 

For more information on the program, please reach out to Farrah Newberry at gamilkproducers@gmail.com